Plautus: Trinummus

Trinummus is a Roman comedy by Plautus that portrays the story of an elaborate game of keep-away involving a hidden treasure, a hot-blooded spendthrift youth, his pious sister, her would-be fiancee, a con-artist, and a group of overly pious old men. The conflict of the plot focuses on whether a pair of old men can help their absent friend Charmides by getting a dowry to his daughter without Charmides wastrel son Lesbonicus first spending the money on comic debauchery. The humor of the play is largely based on parody and clever inversions of typical characters and situations from Roman comedy, and it has something to say to modern readers about how parody can skewer those engaged in pompous moral posturing and present issues of imperialism and moral justification through a comic lens.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 12 January 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In this comprehensive introduction to Plautus' Trinummus, students and non-specialists alike embark on a journey through the themes, context, and enduring humor of this Roman comedy. The play unfolds the captivating story of an intricate game of keep-away, centered around a hidden treasure, a hot-blooded spendthrift youth, his pious sister, her would-be fiancee, a con-artist, and an unlikely group of overly pious old men. The central conflict of the plot revolves around whether a pair of old men can help their absent friend Charmides by securing a dowry for his daughter without the wastrel son Lesbonicus first squandering the money on the customary comic debauchery. The funds are taken from a treasure hidden by Charmides when he left, and a sycophant is hired to pose as Charmides, bringing letters and the dowry cash. As Charmides returns from abroad just in time to intercept the con-artist and thwart his friends' scheming, comic confusion ensues. Trinummus, long neglected in the annals of Plautine plays, is experiencing a resurgence, thanks to this volume. It delves into the humor of the play, which is largely rooted in parody and clever inversions of typical characters and situations from Roman comedy. This discussion is accompanied by an examination of the religious, social, and historical context of the play, as well as its modern reception. The genuine humor of Trinummus has something profound to offer contemporary readers, as it adeptly skewers those engaged in pompous moral posturing and presents a playwright who possesses a keen insight into issues of imperialism and moral justification through a comedic lens.

Weight: 250g
Dimension: 102 x 216 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350126770